The Rochester Lancers hold their destiny in their own hands. They can clinch their first ever Major Indoor Soccer League playoff berth tonight by beating the Wichita Wings at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. And if it doesn’t happen tonight, they’d have another chance in Sunday’s regular-season finale, which is also at home and against the Wings. Of course, a Wichita win at Syracuse on Saturday would do the trick, too, even before Sunday. That’s because Rochester’s road to the postseason got a little easier on Wednesday night thanks to the Syracuse Silver Knights’ 15-12 loss at home to defending champion Milwaukee. The Lancers (9-13) have a one-game lead over Syracuse (8-14) for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Division. The winner will play the Baltimore Blast (15-6).

Should the Lancers and Syracuse finish tied, Rochester owns the tiebreaker having won the season series.

“Regardless of what Syracuse does, we need to go out and play well because the last time we were at home we didn’t,” Lancers coach Billy Andracki said, referring to a 23-9 loss to Syracuse on Feb. 12. “Wichita is a good team. If they played in our division their record wouldn’t be what it is.” Last weekend the Lancers bounced back by winning 16-10 at Wichita, their first win against a team not named Syracuse or Norfolk, but lost 13-11 on Sunday at Missouri. They’ll be at full strength tonight even though two Lancers have flirted recently with Major League Soccer offers.

Midfielder Lubo Kocic spent Monday and Tuesday trying out with the Houston Dynamo, but returned Wednesday. Andracki said the team didn’t want to deny the rookie the chance if it didn’t conflict with a Lancers game.

“I was on teams when I had opportunities to go (try out) and wasn’t allowed,” said Andracki, the former Rochester Rhinos goalkeeper. “You want players to stay focused but at the same time it’s in the back of their head about trying out. We knew we could let him give it his best shot and come back.”

Goalkeeper Patrick Hannigan also recently received overtures from the New York Red Bulls, but didn’t want to abandon the Lancers, who brought him out of retirement a couple games into this season. “Because of the timing, it didn’t work out but it’s something that could still happen after the season,” Andracki said. “He didn’t want to turn his back on the team during an important stretch and that shows a lot of loyalty.”

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Jeff DiVeronica has covered professional soccer and the Rhinos for the Democrat and Chronicle since the team's inception in 1996. "Devo's Direct Kicks" takes aim mostly at Rochester soccer, but will also highlight the USL, MLS and U.S. national team play. Devo, his nickname since college at St. John Fisher, also hosts two weekly radio shows each Saturday on WHTK-AM/FM (1280/107.3 or www.whtk.com). "Kick This!" (11 a.m.) features soccer talk, while the Canandaigua National Bank High School Sports Show (noon) covers Section V sports. E-mail Jeff at jdiveron@DemocratandChronicle.com.
Or follow him on Twitter: @RocDevo